"That Ximen Xinyue is shameless, openly trying to seduce the Emperor."
As these words were spoken, a crowd followed behind, all with dark expressions. Even Mu Qingyao's face turned cold. After making them watch such a long play, this was the only feeling they had?
Instead of acknowledging their intelligence, schemes, and talents, they simply called her shameless and a seductress. Which woman entering the palace didn't wish to seduce the Emperor and gain his favor? Was entering the palace merely for show?
Mu Qingyao did not look at Mu Qingzhu's face, turning instead to Mu Qingxiang on the side. Her expression was serious, as if contemplating something. Finally, she spoke calmly.
"I believe those two are more cunning than the other. Especially Ximen Xinyue. It's long been said she is skilled in both literary and martial arts, a renowned figure in Lin'an City. Because she's always been too proud, she's never married. I didn't expect her to enter the palace as well. I imagine she will find ways to enter the harem."
After Mu Qingxiang finished speaking, she began to consider her and her sister's origins. They were likely no match for those women and would surely become cannon fodder.
If one could not gain favor in the palace, they could only await death.
As Qingyao had said earlier, the palace was full of strife. What if there were true variables? Should they really continue like this? Mu Qingxiang felt a deep sense of worry about their current predicament.
Mu Qingyao listened to her words, seeing her worry, and felt some comfort. As long as Mu Qingxiang understood, one less person would be here.
If she understood, Mu Qingyao would let them leave the palace. Then, they would have no trouble finding good husbands.
"Mm, it's good that you can see that."
Mu Qingyao finished speaking and walked forward intermittently. Mu Qingzhu was momentarily confused by what Qingyao and Qingxiang were saying. Why were their words so profound that she couldn't make head or tail of them?
However, thinking of Ximen Xinyue, she became indignant.
"So what if she's that capable? Qingyao is the Empress, what is she?"
This time, everyone stopped and looked at Mu Qingzhu. Mu Qingyao was utterly speechless.
She was worried about the situation for the two of them. The Empress Dowager would soon target them, yet she was comparing status. At the very least, the Empress Dowager wouldn't target Ximen Xinyue, only people of the Mu family.
The Chu family and the Mu family had always been at odds. Most importantly, the Prime Minister father did not hold military power. The Chu family didn't fear them, but they would fear the Ximen family.
"I am tired and wish to return to rest. You two sisters, go back."
Mu Qingyao didn't want to hear Mu Qingzhu's words anymore. If she listened any longer, she might be angered to death. This woman, who couldn't distinguish between east and west, would likely suffer. The Empress Dowager would probably target her first.
When Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang heard their sister say she was tired, they immediately curtsied and withdrew: "Qingzhu (Qingxiang) will take her leave first."
"Mm," Mu Qingyao nodded, leading Meixin and Mochou back to Fengluan Palace. Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang led their personal maids back to Xiuxiu Palace.
On the way, Mu Qingzhu recalled Qingyao's earlier words and asked Mu Qingxiang suspiciously, "What did Qingyao mean by what she said?"
Mu Qingxiang stopped and glanced around, then lowered her voice and whispered, "She hopes we voluntarily leave the palace."
"Leave the palace?" Mu Qingzhu, hearing this topic abruptly, immediately jumped up, protesting excitedly:
"Why should she make us leave? Didn't she promise to let us perform in front of the Emperor earlier? The Emperor hasn't even seen us, how can he know we're not good enough? And now she's asking us to leave the palace. This woman is truly selfish."
Seeing her sister's reaction, Mu Qingxiang immediately reached out to cover her mouth and whispered, "What are you yelling about?"
After speaking, she turned to look at the few eunuchs following behind. Fortunately, those fellows were a bit far away, and even if they heard, regarding matters of the Empress, they likely wouldn't dare to gossip.
"Be quiet," Mu Qingxiang tugged at her sister's clothes, glared at her, and then spoke slowly:
"Actually, I've thought about it. Qingyao is doing this for our own good. The palace seems unsettled lately. Look, the Crown Princess was inexplicably killed.
"Although we know Prince Ji killed her, why did the deed happen in the Xian Yue Kingdom?
"And that Empress Dowager, why did she inexplicably bring us into the palace, only to be unable to make us concubines? She even needs the Emperor's decree. But if the Emperor agreed, he wouldn't have not issued the decree back then. Look at the current situation?"
The two sisters whispered on the secluded path, their expressions uncertain. Mu Qingzhu finally took her second sister's words to heart. She hadn't thought about it before, but now, upon careful consideration, she felt some unease.
Moreover, she recently heard that the Empress Dowager and Qingyao were not on good terms. Wouldn't the Empress Dowager want to do something? No matter how bad Qingyao was, she was still from the Mu family.
And the Empress Dowager was from the Chu family. The Chu family and the Mu family had always been at odds. If Qingyao met with misfortune, they would likely not fare well either. Thinking of this, the two sisters broke out in a cold sweat.
The initial hope and excitement of entering the palace vanished. Everything they thought about now felt wrong.
"What should we do now?"
Mu Qingzhu's voice was a little unsteady, with a slight tremble. She was only now realizing the fear, and the more she thought about it, the more things felt wrong.
What should they do now? She tightly clutched her second sister Mu Qingxiang's clothes. Since entering the palace, the sisters' affection for each other had improved significantly, and even their feelings for Qingyao had grown considerably. After all, they were daughters of the Mu family.
"Qingyao is the Empress, and we request to leave the palace. This matter shouldn't be difficult for her. Since she reminded us, it means she wants to send us out of the palace."
Mu Qingzhu was unwilling to stay in this terrifying place any longer. Unusually, she nodded repeatedly.
"Okay, let's go find her now and ask to leave the palace."
As Mu Qingzhu spoke, she was about to go find the Empress. Mu Qingxiang sighed. Her elder sister had always been arrogant and overbearing, making others grit their teeth in hatred. But in reality, she was just a paper tiger, at most bullying them, but not to the point of taking their lives.
But the people in the palace were all man-eaters.
"Tomorrow, perhaps. We just visited."
"Mm, then tomorrow," Mu Qingzhu responded. The thought of leaving the palace and going home filled her with immense relief. Although there was a faint sense of regret that she couldn't serve such a handsome Emperor, compared to life, the Emperor was far less important.
As the two finished speaking and prepared to return to Xiuxiu Palace, they looked up and saw two young eunuchs walking towards them. They greeted them with a bow and respectfully said:
"The Empress Dowager has an edict, summoning the two Mu ladies."
"What?" Mu Qingzhu couldn't help but exclaim. She had actually liked meeting the Empress Dowager before, but now, with Mu Qingxiang's revelation, she felt that woman had ill intentions, and her heart inevitably tensed, her voice growing much louder.
The eunuch raised an eyebrow at them strangely. Mu Qingxiang quickly patted her sister's hand and said calmly.